Honkai Impact: Become Their Hero

'Why is Elias staring at me?'

Raiden Mei wondered in confusion.

Her dull eyes carried a trace of puzzlement.

Mei didn't know much about Elias—only that he was her classmate and quite popular.

Back when the Raiden family was still in power and her classmates were still willing to maintain their friendships with her, the girls would often talk about Elias, discussing how to confess to him after school without getting rejected.

Of course, Mei had no interest in such things.

With her strict upbringing, if she ever dated a boy, her daughter-con father, Raiden Ryoma, would probably come after him with a sword.

In short, the two of them should have had nothing to do with each other.

But now, Elias was directing a blazing gaze at her. His light golden eyes shone with an almost unnatural brightness, as if he were studying some kind of rare specimen.

Mei didn't understand why, but she found it… strange. Ever since her family's downfall, the looks she received from her classmates had been filled with ridicule, mockery, or avoidance.

Yet Elias's gaze held nothing but pure curiosity.

[Dear Host, you've been staring for too long.]

"Huh? Really? Ah, well, can't help it. Seeing a game character I've played for so long appear as a real person right in front of me—it's hard not to be curious. I wonder if poking her would trigger any new voice lines."

Elias shrugged, still feeling quite excited.

[Do you still think this is a game? Also, Raiden Mei has noticed you. You two have been making eye contact for thirty seconds now without saying a word. The situation is getting a bit awkward.]

"Uh, alright, alright."

Noticing the increasing number of eyes on them, Elias realized the atmosphere was becoming rather awkward. Pretending nothing had happened and simply sitting back down probably wasn't an option.

So he decisively nodded at Raiden Mei and greeted her with a smile.

"Hi~ Good morning, Mei—uh, Raiden."

"…Huh? Ah, um, g-good morning."

Phew~ Awkward situation defused. As expected of me.

Completely unaware of the shockwave his simple greeting had caused, Elias casually sat down and curiously pulled out his textbook from his desk, flipping through it.

Meanwhile, whispers started spreading throughout the classroom.

Even Mei, who had been greeted, felt surprised. For someone who had been completely isolated by everyone, even the most ordinary greeting had become an unexpected rarity.

"Hmm, definitely different… Damn, I think I'm about to become an academic failure."

Elias sighed, closing the textbook with a wry smile.

While not entirely different, many of the details didn't match up. He had a feeling he might have to relearn everything from elementary to high school—especially history.

After all, unlike in his previous world, this new civilization's history had been shaped by the presence of Honkai. There were now countless events and facts that had never existed in his memory.

For example, there were historical figures from Shenzhou such as the flat tablet—cough, I mean, the Phoenix, and the ancient ancestor of Shenzhou, Ji Xuanyuan.

"Well, since Honkai is still classified information for ordinary civilians, there aren't really any records about it in history textbooks anyway. Yare yare."

Elias sighed at the thought of having to relearn everything from scratch.

But in the next second, he realized something.

"Wait a minute—isn't Nagazora City about to experience the Third Honkai Eruption soon? By then, nothing will be left standing, so why the hell am I even bothering to study?"

The school is going to be gone—hell yeah!

With that thought, Elias instinctively looked around for Raiden Mei, but she was nowhere to be found in the classroom.

[Dear Host, Raiden Mei is currently on the rooftop of the school building. Just so you know, a few girls were discussing bullying her just moments ago.]

"System, look—I know you haven't given me any cheats yet, but I have to admit, you're pretty decent as a life assistant. That said, next time, tell me sooner!"

[Understood. I'll definitely do better next time.]

"…"

Meanwhile, on the rooftop of the school building.

Raiden Mei, who had just wanted to find a quiet place to eat lunch, was now cornered in the stairwell by several girls.

Her eyes were filled with numbness and helplessness. Here we go again.

"Yo, Miss Raiden Mei. Why are you making your own lunch again? What happened to your fancy gourmet bentos?"

"Haha, I bet it's because her dad's fraud got exposed—guess her family can't afford them anymore."

"A scammer's daughter dares to keep coming to school? You must be shameless."

"Say something, will you, Raiden Queen? To be honest, you always pissed me off."

The same people who once acted as Mei's closest friends had now become the ones who hurt her the most.

Even though they hadn't resorted to physical violence yet, sometimes words cut deeper than any blade.

With her head lowered, Raiden Mei curled up in the corner like a wounded animal.

She wanted to deny it.

She wanted to say that none of this was true, that she wasn't a criminal, that her father hadn't committed fraud—that there had to be some misunderstanding.

But she knew—saying anything would only make it worse.

At this school, where she no longer had a place, no matter how much she explained, cried, or pleaded, no one would ever listen to the daughter of a criminal.

Why do I even bother coming to school?

If showing up here only meant getting bullied, maybe it was better to just stop coming altogether.

As Mei's expression grew darker and more desolate, the girls' smiles grew even brighter.

People always love watching something once beautiful and noble shatter and fall.

This once-unattainable flower on the highest peak had now fallen to the ground.

And all of them wanted nothing more than to trample on her, dirty her, and crush this girl whom they once admired, envied, and resented.

"Haha! Here, let me pour some water on you—maybe it'll help you reflect on your sins, criminal."

One of them no longer even bothered to hide the cruelty in her eyes.

She lifted the bucket of filthy water that she had prepared in advance.

But just as she was about to dump it over Raiden Mei's head—

"Hey! That's way out of line!"

A boy suddenly appeared, stepping in front of Raiden Mei like a knight of justice.